FunctionalJnkieGal
Greenlighter
Basically, I work as a barista/cashier now and we had a customer come in and order an iced coffee. Me and my fellow co-worker both heard him order it clearly, but when we brought him his order he said he asked for hot coffee. Not iced. We offered to remake his order but he declined, saying he was already late to work. He drove off, burning rubber. I noticed that his pupils were pinned, he looked sleepy-eyed as fuck, and he had the same dark-circles that I and so many other opiate addicts tend to have for some reason. When he left, we both mentioned the guy and his order to the barista #3 who showed up to work. I remarked on his eyes and said something along the lines of "Well, its not like a wrong coffee order is going to ruin his day when he probably has oxycontin at his disposal or something (thinking to myself "lucky bastard")." Probably wasn't a good idea to throw in that remark, cause barista #3 was like "Well I wouldn't say that". That might've touched a nerve with her, given what I'm getting at. Anyhow, Barista #2 who prepared the alleged wrong drink clocked out for the day and it was just me and barista #3. We made small talk and she mentioned that she could barely lift a full gallon of milk due to an injury, so I helped her prepare the drinks. At some point she told me that she had a metal rod in her neck (from some type of surgery) that caused her ongoing pain and she had to take pain medication. She explained that she got addicted to her prescribed meds, the docs eventually cut her off, and she had withdrawals and overcame addiction. I saw what looked like the corner of a fentanyl patch peeking out from her shirt, but acted like I didn't notice, but replied that I can relate, given that I'm still struggling with an opiate addiction, but want to quit eventually so I can have wholesome life and start a family (she's married with 3 kids). She suggested that I tell the owner because she thinks she would understand, but I said I'm not sure if that's a good idea, given that I was only 3 days into the job and it wouldn't look good if I asked for a few days off to kick a habit that I've had for over a decade. I told her that she might not be as understanding as you think, given that she's a conservative, churchy-Christian type (not putting down Christians). *What I didn't mention was that our boss's parents are also the owners of the RV park in which I reside, and that I was afraid that if she spilled the beans to her, not only would I lose my job but that she would possibly tell her parents, my fiance and I would be booted from the site, and he would blame me for the domino effect and would possibly break up with me*. She looked at me sympathetically and I said "you're gonna tell her, aren't you?" and she replied that she thinks I should be the one to tell her. I said I would when I planned on quitting, but its just not the right time for me yet. She said "There will never be a "right time", you just need to do it". I said, I know and I will eventually, I just don't wanna screw up this job right off the bat, and I guess I should've kept that to myself. I explained that despite my addiction, I can be trusted. Even if I wasn't trustworthy, there's cameras but I'm not a thief anyway. Evidently her addiction was legal. Mine started out legal until I ran out and went looking for more. I never understood why some people who are prescribed opiates act as if they're exempt from addiction just because they don't have to go out searching for them. Anyhow, she seems nice and I wanna trust that she won't say anything about it to the owner. I told her that its something I take now in a small dose right before bed to sleep, that now I do it just to get by--not to get high. I couldn't be more clear when I told her that I don't do it before or during work. I once quit a job for refusing a piss-test, but I've never been worried for saying too much. I honestly thought she would understand and know that one cannot simply end addiction if they don't truly want to yet. I guess what I'm worried about is this: Will she tell? Do you think someone would go as far as to not only fire me for it, but kicking my fiance and I out of the park grounds (who I explained doesn't use opiates or anything stronger than booze, weed, the occasional small dose of xanax, and also frowns on my addiction to pain medication)? Could they possibly involve police? Sorry for the novel. I'm just sooo worried about this. I'm glad my fiance took it well when I told him about airing out my dirty laundry to one of my co-workers, who is basically no more than an acquaintance at this point. I figured he'd already be ready to dump me for possibly putting us at risk of getting kicked out, even though we've always paid our rent on time and don't cause any trouble.
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It's just a job and you can be yourself at home.
